Master of Science in Computer Science

The M.S. in Computer Science is designed to offer professionals an opportunity to attain an advanced degree in the computer science field while upgrading their skills and knowledge. The computer science program is a joint program with the College of Charleston. Students in this program can choose from the following specializations:

Computer Science: Providing a traditional master's degree program that offers a balance between theory and application, the Computer Science specialization prepares students to pursue further coursework that leads to a Ph.D. and preparation for work in software development roles that include elements of architecture and design.

Cybersecurity: Founded on the academic requirements set forth by the National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity specialization provides students the technical skills and knowledge needed to successfully protect organizational data, investigate data breaches, and develop strategies to prevent data from being compromised.

Information Systems: With an emphasis on analyzing business problems that lend themselves to software solutions, the Information Systems specialization prepares students for positions that involve analysis, design, and management of information processing systems.

Software Engineering: Using methodologies for designing and testing medium and large-scale software systems, the Software Engineering specialization prepares students for software engineering positions that require proficiency in specific areas of the software-development lifecycle: requirements gathering/definition, software quality assurance, and software testing and maintenance.

Admission Requirements

Submission of an official transcript of the baccalaureate degree and all other undergraduate or graduate work directly from each regionally accredited college or university. Students admitted to the program are normally expected to have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. With the approval of the joint program admissions committee, students whose grade point average is less than 3.0 may be permitted to take up to 6 credit hours of courses in a non-degree-seeking status and then re-apply for admission after successful completion of these courses.

Submission of an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test score. Test must be taken within five years of application.

Acceptable GRE minimum score is a verbal and quantitative combination of 300 and 4.0 on the writing assessment. If taken prior to August 1, 2011, the minimum acceptable GRE test score is a verbal and quantitiatve combination of 1000 and a 4.0 on the writing assessment.

Prospective students must be able to demonstrate program competency through coursework, approved work experience, or a program-administered exam, in the areas of basic Computer Architecture, Object-oriented Programming, Discrete Mathematics, and Data Structures.

TOEFL Requirement: Prospective students whose native language of citizenship is not English will be required to additionally submit TOEFL scores. The minimum acceptable scores are 550 paper-based, 79-80 internet-based, or 213 computer-based.

Registration Requirement

All admitted students must have approval from the Program Director or Department Head before registering for any courses in the Computer Science curriculum.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Computer Science degree is conferred upon those candidates who successfully complete an approved program of study consisting of a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate credit (of which no more than nine may be transfer credit) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Declare an area of specialization from among cybersecurity, software engineering, information systems, or computer science, and complete four courses

Degree candidates in the Computer Science specialization must complete four courses from the courses numbered 612, 614, 616, 618, 638, 674, or 690 when approved by the department head or program director. Three of the four courses must be from the courses numbered 612, 614, 616, or 618.CSCI 612 Advanced Computer OrganizationCSCI 614 Advanced Operating SystemsCSCI 616 AutomataCSCI 618 Programming LanguagesCSCI 638 Advanced Topics in Database SystemsCSCI 674 Introduction to Computer Graphics

Degree candidates in the Information Systems specialization must complete four courses from the courses numbered 631, 632, 634, 636, 638, 659, 672, or 690 when approved by the department head or program director. Two of courses must be 631 and 632.CSCI 631 Privacy and Security IssuesCSCI 632 Data Communications and NetworkingCSCI 634 Project Change and ManagementCSCI 636 Information Technology Policy, Strategy, and GovernanceCSCI 638 Advanced Topics in Database SystemsCSCI 659 Service-Oriented ComputingCSCI 672 Human-Computer Interaction

Degree candidates in the Software Engineering specialization must complete four courses from the courses numbered 634, 654, 656, 657, 658, 659, 672, or 690 when approved by the department head or program director. One of these courses must be 656 and another of the courses must be chosen from 654 and 658.CSCI 634 Project Change and ManagementCSCI 654 Software Requirements Analysis and SpecificationsCSCI 656 Software Systems Design and ImplementationCSCI 657 Embedded Systems DesignCSCI 658 Software Testing and MaintenanceCSCI 659 Service-Oriented ComputingCSCI 672 Human-Computer Interaction

For more information about the program or admission requirements, contact Dr. Mei Chen, Department Head (phone: 843-953-7896, e-mail:
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), or Dr. Shankar M. Banik, Program Director (phone: 843-953-5039, e-mail:
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)

The Citadel - The Military College of South Carolina
171 Moultrie Street | Charleston, SC 29409 | 843-225-3294